I went ahead and sent my pitch to the two head-hunters that I mentioned in my last post. Only the one messaged me back. This is what he said.

“Hi Ian. It was a pleasure meeting you yesterday. And, I commend you for the creativity of your proposal. I’ve never heard or thought of anything like that. It is a unique yet practical way to look at financing your education. And, as you could probably tell by our comments yesterday, “Random Name” and I both think your education is an extremely important part of your life. Unfortunately, I am not in a situation to help you at this time. The vast majority of my net worth is currently invested in stock in the new company that we merged with, “Random Company inc.” . This type of investment (restricted stock in a privately held company like “Random Company”) has severely limited liquidity. So, I’m not a good prospective investor for you due to timing.”

He rejected my proposal, and that’s okay. He was the first of many, I’m sure. He gave me some tips too.

“You are selling an investment idea, and the foundation of effective sales is statistics. The odds of any sales proposal being successful are minimal. Yet, some buyers/consumers/investors say yes. So, did you hear enough “no’s” to encounter enough people to say “yes”? With your mentor’s help and guidance, I’m sure you can find enough target “investors.” “

He’s exactly right. I need to get out and push my proposal into every hand I can get it into. I’m really trying to just underwrite my freshman year at this point. I’m in somewhat of a time crunch and with every payment I get I am able to push back the time at which I will need more money just a little further.

At this point I have enough money to last my education til October, possibly November. It’s a shame really. I need more money for my freshman year than I will at any other time in my education. I need about $28,000 this year. Next year it will be cut by at least $6,000 a year.

Yesterday I had the pleasure of speaking with some very nice head-hunters. My current boss, the two head-hunters, and myself all went to lunch in Houston. Now I have not yet told them about my investment plan (that’s for an e-mail today), but I did get some invaluable advice on how to be as desirable to an employer as possible. For one thing, they both loved my double major in French, saying that foreign language is something that in the near future will not only be desired by employers but almost a prerequisite. They did, however, mention that (and I know this) French will not be the most useful language in the business world. They recommended the obvious Chinese, but also Spanish, Farsi and Arabic. I am choosing to stick with my French major. Partly because I love the language, partly because I would hate to have had my 5 years of grade school French go to waste. Having, by some strange premonition, sensed my next question, they proceeded to explain to me that classroom study of a language was not nearly as important as proficiency. And I figure; if I can’t garner proficiency in Spanish whilst living in Texas of all places, then shame on me.

They also mentioned that to be gainfully employed in Texas, one should really also have an accounting degree. So now I am looking into a triple-major. If it proves not possible I will be getting the French/Finance degree but I’ll try my best to get an (as the one head-hunter humorously put it) FFA degree. (French, Finance, and Accounting).

They did say that the Accounting major tacked on there is a less important laurel in other parts of the country but seeing how I plan on part of my desirability to employers being my mobility, it’s probably better that I try to achieve my Future Farmers of America degree.

Now they also said I should try for an Economics minor…. This is getting to be a bit much.

If this form of college finance works it could be the impetus for an entirely new way to go about doing it. With already having investors, one could make the argument that the concept has already been proven. This is a sell-able investment plan. While yes, I ask for money for college and thus should have college paid for; I am ultimately incentivised to bring the cost of education down as much as possible via scholarships, work outside of school, thrifty living etc. The more of my education I am able to pay for myself, the less I have to pay out of pocket later on. But, with the way the plan is structured, my investors should make the same ultimate percentage return on their money.

While the argument exists that one should be equally as incentivised under the weight of a student loan, I don’t think that people necessarily are. It seems that a college education has become so much of a social imperative that we’re willing to take on any amount of debt to get us there. In fact if I’d had a cosigner for student loans, I probably would have walked away with $100,000 in debt. Instead, while potentially still borrowing $100k, the burden of “debt” is gone. My profits are unleveraged and my college will be financed by equity, or, if necessary, a combination of debt and equity.

My Education is a private equity deal. People own shares of my potential success.

I officially have 2 committed investors! Baylor here I come! There’s a certain optimism that comes with getting new investors. I have two people that believe I can make it. They believe it enough to bet on me and that’s the best thing anyone can do. Their chips are on the table and now I’m gonna show them it’s a worthy expenditure.

My name is Ian Hancock and I am stubborn. I am a third generation Irish American headed to college at Baylor University in Waco, TX. I am learning Irish (Tá mé ag foghlaim Gaeilge). I am a Pre-Business/French major at Baylor and there’s something unique about my going to college. I refuse to believe that I have to take out exorbitant student debt to finance my education. College tuition has risen to an all-time high and, with it, student debt. Instead I’m using me and my education as an investment Proposition. I offer shares of my future equity in return for private investments into my education. As it says in my bio graphical blurb, I am bound and determined to be successful in life. I need to be able to give my investors a return. I am hard working. I am intelligent. I will develop the skills necessary for me to succeed and bring my investors a return.